A Joyful Pain

This week having eye surgery on Tuesday has been rough and unexpectedly painful in recovery. My greatest blessing has been my wife’s patient help and loving encouragement. No one else would have put up with me these last couple of days!

God’s challenge is for me has been to focus on the joy of my blessings. It is way too easy for ungratefulness and complaining to dominate until the pain of trials has gotten my attention.

God is so infinitely good and patient to help us. He allows our trials sometimes as a reminder that He alone is the source of our deepest needs.

Jesus in the Furnace

Are you facing testing and trials and it feels like Jesus is nowhere to be seen? You are not alone. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were facing the threat of being thrown into a furnace so hot that it burned up their guards. When they boldly were telling the king they were willing to be thrown in rather than worship a statue they had no idea that a miracle was about to happen.

But as the furnace door opened some amazing things began to happen. First…they didn’t get burned up! Yay team! Secondly the ropes tying their hands and feet burned off and they started walking around inside the furnace…awesome! But God saved the biggest and best for last…they got to see Jesus!

Yes difficulties and trials loom on our horizon but God has wonderful news for us. When we fall down into our personal flaming furnace we get to meet Jesus there in the fire!

“Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”
Daniel 3:25 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/dan.3.25.NKJV